Simpler style may mark new Papacy

Press, 29 August 1978, Page 9

Simpler style may mark new Papacy

International

NZPA-Reuter

Vatican City

1 he coronation of Pope John Paul 1, the conclave fOl his election, and the funeral of his predecessor will oman Catholic Church about eight billion lire according to Vatican officials.

The new leader of the world’s 700 million Catholics, 65 year-old Cardinal Albino Luciani of Venice, will be enthroned at a special ceremony on Sunday, after his surprise election' at the week-end. Vatican officials said that heavy expenditure had been Incurred in converting the area round the Sistine Chapel to accommodate the 111 cardinals attending the conclave to elect the Pope,; which lasted for about 40 hours. But three billion lire ($3.41 million) had been recouped ■ through the sale of special-ly-minted stamps and coins commemorating the death of Pope Paul VI, the officials said. Already Pope John Paul, who has little experience of the Vatican, has created something of a personal style — informal, relaxed, snd warm — a contrast to the more formal approach of Pope Paul, who died on Augist 6. The new Pontiff gave a touching address to thousands of worshippers at his first midday blessing at St Peter’s on Sunday. “I don’t have the wisdom sr the heart of Pope John XXIII nor the preparation ind culture of Pope Paul, sut I am in their place.” he told the crowds, at once using the first person “I” rather than the usual Papal •we.” Pope John Paul, the son of a Socialist glass worker, has made it clear that he intends to carry on with the policy of moderate reform undertaken by his two prelecessors. But speaking to his cardinals at the end of their secret conclave, he also emphasised that he wanted to "preserve intact the discipline of the Church.” He also promised to push ihead with efforts to reunite Roman Catholics and Anglicans. Orthodox believers and ether Christians “without doctrinal retreats, but also without hesitations.”

With little experience of central administration after a lifetime spent in his native northern Italy, the new Pope I will spend this week in • meetings with chiefs of the Curia, the Church’s central government, getting to grips with the daily workings of J the headquarters of the . world’s biggest church. The heads of the Minisj tries in the Curia have re--signed — a formality on the . death of a Pope — and John i Paul will now have to decide whether to make changes or retain the men who worked [ for his predecessor. “Kind . . . humble . . . i gentle . . . holy ... a eal man of God.” Those were 1 the words used about John Paul by the Cardinals who : emerged with him from the; . conclave area round the Sis- ) tine Chapel. Cardinal Aloisio Lorshei-i , der of Brazil summed up the ■ feelings of his fellow . Churchmen by saying: “He is an excellent choice, truly excellent. I am very happy.” He is said to want a plain, , ; I solemn ceremony at his co- 1 : I ronation on Sunday to formally launch his reign as tithe 263rd Pope, and it seems i i likely that John Paul will i ■ not be crowned but simply ,] enthroned. ; Vatican sources said that ‘(the new Pope, who refused . |to allow the traditional gondola procession when he ; was sworn in as Patriarch of Venice in 1969, did not want ’ to wear the triple crown of ’ the Pontiff. His election was hailed by ' Roman Catholic leaders | across the world, who thought him well gifted to lead the Church in moderate J reform. Pope John Paul told the ■ world on Sunday he never -imagined he would h e i elected. “Yesterday morning, I; went quietly to the Sistine); ■ Chape] to vote,” he said with a smile to a cheering.; /handkerchief-waving crowd L iof about 150.000 in St 11 .Peter’s Square. “1 could ; never have imagined what] was about to happen.” I Earlier, the new Pontiff ■ j praised the work of Pope (Paul, and told his 110 car- ; ; dinal-electors in the Sistine ; I Chapel that “our programme I will be that of continuing ■his, in the path already ; indicated ’ dth so much approval bv the great heart of ’John XXIII.”